Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences, 17, 2008, 295306

Carcass characteristics and chemical composition

of the Longissimus muscle of crossbred bulls (Bos
taurus indicus vs Bos taurus taurus) finished in
feedlot
I.N. Prado1,4, R.M. Prado1, P.P. Rotta1, J.V. Visantainer2,
J.L. Moletta3 and D. Perotto3
State University of Maring,
Department of Animal Science,
2
Department of Chemistry
Av. Colombo 5790, Maring, PR, Brazil
3
Agronomic Institute of Paran
Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
1

(Received 31 January 2008; revised version 23 April 2008; accepted 24 June 2008)

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to evaluate final weight, carcass characteristics, chemical composition and
fatty acid profile in Longissimus muscle (LM) of young bulls of the crossbred type: CanchimAberdeen
Angus (n=7), NelloreAberdeen Angus (n=12) and NelloreContinental breeds (Simmental, Limousin) (n=8), finished in feedlot. CanchimAberdeen Angus and NelloreAberdeen Angus bulls had
similar final body and hot carcass weights, while these were lower for the NelloreContinental breed
crosses. Fat thickness and LM area were inferior in the NelloreContinental breed group. In contrast,
lipid contents were larger in the LM of the CanchimAberdeen Angus bulls. NelloreAberdeen Angus
and NelloreContinental breed crosses featured a similar percentage of polyunsaturated, n-6 and n-3
fatty acids, and a larger ratio of polyunsaturated and saturated and n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in comparison to CanchimAberdeen Angus bulls.
KEY WORDS: cattle, meat quality, Longissimus muscle, chemical composition, fatty acids

Corresponding author: e-mail: inprad@uem.b

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COMPOSITION OF THE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE OF CROSSBRED BULLS

INTRODUCTION
Brazil has the largest commercial cattle population in the world, with approximately 159 million animals and a production of approximately 8.2 million tons of
carcass each year (Anualpec, 2007). From this total, about 30% (2.4 million tons)
are exported to several countries around the world. The consumer market for beef
has become increasingly demanding as a result of negative factors associated with
meat composition and quality (Saucier, 1999). Among these factors is the relation
between beef consumption and heart disease, atherosclerosis, intestinal cancer,
obesity, among other diseases (Katan et al., 1994; Kwiterovich, 1997).
As such, the use of biotechnologies - among them crossbreeding between Zebu
breeds (Bos taurus indicus) (which are well adapted to subtropical and tropical regions) and breeds of European origin (Bos taurus taurus) (adapted to colder climates
and featuring greater weight gain and meat quality potential) - could become an important tool to increase meat production and especially to improve quality factors. Such
factors include increased fat thickness and marbling, improved beef tenderness and
flavour, with reduced levels of calpastatins in the muscle of crossbred animals. Zebu
breeds such as Nellore, a Zebu breed originating from India (Ongole) that represents
about 80% of livestock in Brazil, exhibit a tougher meat as a result of higher content of
collagen and an unfavourable profile of enzymes related to meat tenderness.
The State of Paran, located in south Brazil, features a milder climate as compared to the Center-West, North and Northeastern regions of the country. Consequently, researchers have since the 1980s worked on the crossbreeding between
Zebu and European breeds, with the objective of increasing production and quality in the meat of the offspring (Perotto et al., 1998, 2000).
The objective of this study was to evaluate the final weight, carcass characteristics, chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and the ratios between polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids and between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in various
crossbred type bulls. In the study, a crossbred type (Canchim) was included which
had been created already in 1940 in Brazil from Nellore (3/8) and Charolais (5/8).
Purebred Nellore and Canchim were crossed with either Aberdeen Angus or largeframed Continental beef breeds and finished in feedlot.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Animals management and sampling
This study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Agronomic Institute
of Paran situated in south Brazil. Twenty-seven bulls (7-1/2 Canchim1/2 Aberdeen Angus, 12-1/4 Nellore3/4 Aberdeen Angus and 8-1/2 Nellore1/2 Continental breeds being either Simmental or Limousin) were used. From 8 months

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297

of age, i.e. after weaning, the animals had exclusive grazed together on a fenced
pasture of Brachiaria grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) until they were 18
months old. Subsequently, they were finished in a feedlot during 4 further months.
During the feedlot period, the animals were kept separately in individual pens (5 m2
for each animal), and fed twice a day. They were given a diet formulated to meet
requirements for fattening beef cattle (NRC, 1996). The diet consisted of, %: maize
silage 50, cracked maize 20, cotton meal 13, wheat middling 15, urea 1, limestone
0.5 and mineral salt 0.5. Tables 1 and 2 give the analysed nutrients and fatty acid
Table 1. Chemical composition of the concentrate ingredients
% of Dry matter
Ingredients
DM
OM2
CP3
NDF4 ADF5
LIG6
ash1
Maize silage
33.50
4.60 95.40
7.50 45.74 29.42
4.44
Cracked maize
89.11
3.66 96.34
8.00 12.64
3.11
0.50
Cotton meal
89.25
6.21 93.79 50.34 23.76 10.16
7.76
Wheat middling
87.39
7.81 92.19 16.64 38.31 10.17
3.06
Limestone
99.90 99.54
0.46
Mineral salt
98.71 89.29 10.71
Urea
98.80
273.63
1
total ash, 2organic matter, 3 crude protein, 4 neutral detergent fibre, 5 acid detergent fibre,
7
ether extract
Table 2. Fatty acid profile, % of total fatty acids of Brachiaria and concentrate
Fatty acids
14:0
16:0
18:0
18:1 n-9
18:1 n-7
18:2 n-6
18:3 n-6
18:3 n-3
20:4 n-6
20:5 n-3
22:5 n-3
22:6 n-3
PUFA
MUFA
SFA
n-6
n-3
PUFA:MUFA
n-6/n-3

Treatments
Brachiaria
1.13
18.92
5.81
16.79
4.24
34.63
1.41
9.55
1.67
1.76
2.64
1.48
53.13
21.03
25.85
37.71
15.42
2.06
2.45

concentrate
15.79
4.57
44.40
1.95
27.64
1.91
0.86
0.89
0.37
1.37
0.26
33.29
46.35
20.36
30.43
2.86
1.64
10.73

EE7
3.05
3.70
1.36
2.55

lignin,

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COMPOSITION OF THE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE OF CROSSBRED BULLS

composition of diets and feeds. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the
study and every 28 days, and on the day before slaughter, after 12 h fasting. The
animals were slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse 90 km away from the
Ponta Grossa farm, according to industrial practice in Brazil. Carcass measurements were conducted at this slaughterhouse, whereas meat analyses were carried
out at the chemical laboratory of the State University of Maring.
The State University of Maring Animal Care and Ethics Committee approved
the use of animals in this study.
Carcass characteristics
Hot carcass weight (kg) was determined in right half after slaughter before chilling
the carcass. At slaughter, the carcasses were identified, weighed and stored during 24
h in a chilling chamber at a temperature of 4oC. After chilling, the right half of the
carcass was used to determine quantitative characteristics. Dressing percentage for an
individual animal was defined as hot carcass weight divided by liveweight. Carcass
conformation (CC) it was evaluated by Mllers point scale (Mller, 1980) in which
the highest value indicates the best conformation; muscle development was considered
after the exclusion of cover fat. Carcass length is the distance from the skull board to
the pubic bone on the anterior side of the first rib, measured with a ribbon or a tape
measure. Leg length (LL) it was evaluated using a wood compass with metallic edges
that measures the distance from the anterior border of the pubic bone to a middle point
at the tarsus bone. Cushion thickness (CT) was measured by a wood compass with
metallic edges that mark the distance between the lateral face and the median at the
superior part of the cushion. Fat thickness (FT) was taken by a caliper averaging three
points between the 12th and the 13th rib but over the Longissimus muscle (LM).
The Longissimus muscle area was analysed using the right part of carcass,
where a transversal cut is made between the 12 and 13 ribs. After this, a compensating planimeter, which is an instrument that measures the area of irregularly
shaped objects, was used to determine the area. Texture was determined through
the size of the fascicle (muscle grain size) and was evaluated subjectively with a
point scale from 1-5 (Mller, 1980). Muscle colour after 24-h carcass chilling was
estimated by evaluating the colouration according to a point scale from 1-5 using
a colour table (Mller, 1980).
Marbling, intramuscular fat content, was assessed in LM between the 12th and
13th ribs on a scale from 1-18 (Mller, 1980).
Chemical composition
After 24 h, LM samples were taken as the complete cross-section between the
12 and the 13th rib, and were immediately taken to the laboratory. Cover fat was
th

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299

discarded and the muscle portion was frozen at -20oC for later analysis. Laboratory analyses of beef were carried out two months after sampling. The samples
were thawed at room temperature (20C), ground, homogenized, and analysed in
triplicate.
Beef moisture and ash contents were determined according to AOAC (1998).
Crude protein content was measured by the Kjeldahl method (AOAC, 1998), total
lipids were extracted by the Bligh and Dyer (1959) method with a chloroform/
methanol mixture. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were prepared by triacylglycerol methylation, according to the ISO (1978) method.
Chromatographic analysis and cholesterol quantification
Cholesterol analysis was carried out by the method modified by Rowe et al.
(1999) using a 14-A gas chromatograph (Shimadzu, Japan), equipped with a
flame ionization detector and a fused silica capillary column (25 m long, 0.25-mm
internal diameter, and 0.20 m Ohio Valley-30). Injector, column, and detector
temperatures were 260, 280 and 280oC, respectively. Ultra-pure gas fluxes (White
Martins) of 1.5 ml min-1 H2 as carrier gas, 30 ml min-1 N2 as make-up gas, 300 ml
min-1 synthetic gas, and 30 ml min-1 N2 for flame were used. The sample injection
split mode was: 1:150. Peak integration was carried out with CG-300 computing
integrator (CG Instruments, Brazil) and cholesterol was identified by comparison
with standards from Sigma (USA). Sample cholesterol quantification was carried out
after verification of method linearity. Standard cholesterol solutions (Sigma, USA)
were prepared with concentrations 0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 2.0 mg ml-1, all containing
0.20 mg ml-1 5-cholestane (Sigma, USA), and analysed. The ratio of the areas of
cholesterol and 5-cholestane was plotted against the cholesterol concentration for
injected volumes of 0.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 l. The curve obtained was used for
cholesterol analysis in mg 100 g-1.
Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters
The fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) were analysed in a gas chromatograph
(Varian, USA) equipped with a flame ionization detector and a fused silica capillary column CP-7420 (100 m, 0.25 mm and 0.39 m o.d., Varian, USA) Select
Fame. Column temperature was programmed at 165oC for 18 min, 180oC (30oC
min-1) for 22 min, and 240oC (15oC min-1) for 30 min, with 45-psi pressure. The
injector and detector were kept at 220 and 245oC, respectively. The gas fluxes
(White Martins) used were: 1.4 ml min-1 for the carrier gas (H2), 30 ml min-1 for
the make-up gas (N2) and 30 ml min-1 and 300 ml min-1 for H2 and the synthetic
flame gas, respectively. Sample injection split mode was 1/80. Fatty acids were
identified by comparing the relative retention times of FAME peaks of the sam-

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COMPOSITION OF THE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE OF CROSSBRED BULLS

ples with fatty acids methyl esters standards from Sigma (USA) by spiking samples with standard. The peak areas were determined by Star software (Varian). The
data were expressed as percentages of the normalized area of fatty acids (Rowe et
al., 1999; Milinsk et al., 2005).
Statistical analysis
The data was subjected to analysis of variance with crossbred type as an effect.
When the crossbred type effect was significant, means were compared by the
Tukey test at 10, 5 and 1% significance levels, using SAS statistical software
(2000).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Carcass characteristics (Table 3). Final weight and hot carcass weight were similar (P<0.1) for CanchimAberdeen Angus and NelloreAberdeen Angus animals.
However, these two genetic groups had a larger (P<0.1) final weight and hot carcass
weight as compared to the NelloreContinental breed group. This was likely the
result of a different heterosis and of differences in the original breeds used for crossbreeding (Nieto Martin, 2004). In this respect, the presence of genes from Aberdeen
Angus in general, increased the advantage of these cattle.
Table 3. Effect of different crossbreeding types on carcass characteristics of bulls
Genetic groups
Parameters
Differences
Nel Ang2
Nel Con3
Can Ang1
Final weight, kg
546 + 6.86a
558 4.00a
485 6.00b
***
a
a
Hot carcass weight , kg
283 6.05
304 3.53
261 5.30b
***
Carcass dressing, %
49.5 0.30b
52.1 0.17a
54.1 0.26a
**
Conformation, points
5.29 0.47c
9.08 0.27a
7.25 0.42b
***
Leg length, cm
68.9 0.38b
73.2 0.22a
75.1 0.34a
*
a
a
Carcass length, cm
137 0.89
142 0.52
131 0.78b
*
Cushion thickness, cm
25.9 0.30b
28.4 0.17a
26.4 0.26b
**
Fat thickness, cm
4.40 0.28a
5.10 0.17a
2.40 0.25b
**
a
a
2
72.3 0.99
72.4 0.58
65.8 0.86b
***
Longissimus muscle area, cm
Texture, points
3.86 0.08
4.17 0.05
4.25 0.07
NS
Colour, points
3.86 0.09
3.25 0.06
3.75 0.08
NS
Marbling, points
5.71 0.33
5.75 0.19
4.13 0.28
NS
pH, points
5.4 0.02
5.4 0.01
5.6 0.02
NS
1
2
3
1/2 Canchim 1/2 Aberdeen Angus, 1/4 Nellore 3/4 Aberdeen Angus, 1/2 Nellore 1/2
Continental, 4 coefficient of variation, * P<0.10, **P<0.05, ***P<0.01, NS - non-significant

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301

Hot carcass dressing percentage was similar (P>0.05) between the

NelloreAberdeen Angus and NelloreContinental breed groups, while the lowest (P<0.05) in the CanchimAberdeen Angus crossbreds. Notwithstanding, it is
important to stress that the dressing percentage found in this group was less than
50%. In general, animals as a result of industrial crossbreeding achieve dressing
percentages beyond 54% (Moreira et al., 2003, 2005; Abraho et al., 2005). The
very low dressing percentage therefore may have been related to the thorough
cleaning methods performed on the carcass of the bovines by the Brazilian slaughterhouse.
Carcass conformation was superior (P<0.10) for the NelloreAberdeen
Angus genetic group, lesser for the CanchimAberdeen Angus group and
intermediate for NelloreContinental breed group. The superior conformation
for NelloreAberdeen Angus crosses can be explained by the high proportion of
British breed genes (3/4), as these animals are known for to express a favourable
carcass conformation. The less favourable conformation of the CanchimAberdeen
Angus genetic group might have been the consequence of a higher Zebu gene
proportion (3/8), which was higher than in the other crossbred type despite the use
of Canchim having already Bos taurus taurus genes.
Carcass length and leg length were not significantly different between animals of
the NelloreAberdeen Angus and the NelloreContinental breed groups. A shorter
(P<0.05) carcass and leg length was found in animals of the CanchimAberdeen
Angus group. This cannot be explained simply by the proportion of Zebu genes,
as the latter crossbreds had intermediate Zebu gene proportions. Basically Zebu
cattle were selected to endure long walks in search of pasture, which might affect
leg length.
The greatest (P<0.05) cushion thickness was observed in animals of the
NelloreAberdeen Angus genetic group. There was no difference (P>0.05) between the CanchimAberdeen Angus and the NelloreContinental breed group.
This might have been a result of the inclusion of Aberdeen Angus, a breed with a
high inclination for fat accretion, which had the highest gene proportion (3/4) in the
crosses with Nellore.
Fat thickness was similar (P>0.05) between the CanchimAberdeen Angus and
NelloreAberdeen Angus genetic groups and smaller (P<0.05) for animals in the
NelloreContinental breed group. This again is explained by differences in fat accretion of Aberdeen Angus vs Continental breeds. The fat thickness noted in the
CanchimAberdeen Angus and NelloreAberdeen Angus meets the guidelines of
the Brazilian market, which requires that carcasses have to have between 3 and
6 mm of fat thickness (Luchiari Filho, 2000).
The Longissimus muscle area was similar (P>0.01) in animals from the
CanchimAberdeen Angus and NelloreAberdeen Angus and smaller (P<0.01)

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COMPOSITION OF THE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE OF CROSSBRED BULLS

in NelloreContinental animals. The smaller Longissimus muscle area observed in

NelloreContinental animals can be explained by the lower carcass weight of these
animals at slaughter (Table 3).
The crossbred type had no effect (P>0.05) on texture, colour and marbling of
the Longissimus muscle. According to Mllers scale (1980), the colour for all genetic ratios can be considered satisfactory, as they were classified as red-coloured;
as such, they are within the standards for beef consumption in the Brazilian market. Similarly, texture was classified as fine (Mller, 1980). Such texture is ideal
for the commercialization of beef within the Brazilian market. Still, among the
different genetic groups, marbling was classified as average. Average or medium
marbling is well accepted within the domestic market; however, in order to reach
foreign markets, especially in North America, beef should feature more accentuated marbling.
Chemical composition of Longissimus muscle. Moisture and ash contents of
the Longissimus muscle were similar (P>0.05) among all three genetic groups
(Table 4) averaging at 74 and 1%, respectively. Moreira et al. (2003) and Padre
et al. (2006) described similar levels of moisture in Longissimus muscle to those
Table 4. Effect of different crossbreeding types on nutrient and total cholesterol contents of
Longissimus muscle of bulls
Genetic groups
Parameters
Differences
Nel Ang2 Nel Con3
Can Ang1
Moisture, %
72.8 0.14
73.7 0.08 73.7 0.12
NS
Ash, %
1.13 0.02
1.07 0.01 1.06 0.02
NS
Crude protein, %
24.9 0.24
24.2 0.14 23.1 0.21
NS
Total lipids, %
3.91 0.11a 2.01 0.06b 2.55 0.10b
*
Total cholesterol, mg/100 g of muscle
34.1 1.14c 41.1 0.67b 52.5 1.00a
**
1
1/2 Canchim 1/2 Aberdeen Angus, 2 1/4 Nellore 3/4 Aberdeen Angus, 3 1/2 Nellore
Continental, 4 coefficient of variation, * P<0.10, **P<0.05, NS - non-significant

observed in this experiment. Similarly, genetic groups had no influence (P>0.05)

on the content of protein in Longissimus muscle; the average level for all three
genetic groups was 24%. Padre et al. (2007) found a similar crude protein level
in Longissimus of animals finished in feedlot. Diet and cross breeding generally
have little influence on gross nutrient composition of Longissimus muscle (Webb,
2006), except fat content.
Accordingly, total lipid content was higher (P<0.01) in beef of Canchim Aberdeen Angus animals as compared to the Nellore Aberdeen Angus and Nellore
Continental breed bulls, with the latter two groups being not different (P>0.05)
in that respect. Again, the high Aberdeen Angus gene proportion in the first men-

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303

tioned crossbred type explains this difference as a result of a long-term selection

for high intramuscular fat content (Nieto Martin, 2004). Conversely, animals from
Zebu breeds (Nellore) feature lower total lipid levels in carcass (Luchiari Filho,
2000) and beef. Nevertheless, the average value observed in all three genetic
groups (3%) remained below the maximum level (5%) recommended by Pensel
(1998) as to be acceptable for the prevention of corony heart diseases.
Animals from the NelloreContinental breed type featured the highest (P<0.05)
total cholesterol levels in Longissimus muscle (Table 4). The lowest levels were
found in the CanchimAberdeen Angus animals. The NelloreAberdeen Angus group featured intermediate levels. Thus, the presence of Zebu genes in the
makeup of the genetic groups appeared to result in higher total cholesterol levels
in Longissimus muscle, perhaps as a result of an increase in muscle membranes.
Nevertheless, the average total cholesterol level observed is below that regarded
as harmful to human health, which is set to 50 mg/100 g of muscle (Pensel, 1998;
Saucier, 1999).
Fatty acid profile in the Longissimus muscle (Table 5). The percentages of
myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0) and palmitoleic (16:1 n-7) fatty acids were similar
(P>0.05) between animals in the NelloreAberdeen Angus and Nellore Continental breed groups. A higher percentage of these three fatty acids were observed
in CanchimAberdeen Angus animals. This leads to the conclusion that a higher
proportion of Zebu genes would be contributing to a lower percentage of these three
fatty acids. On the other hand, the percentages of ai (17:0), i (17:0 iso), margaric
(17:0), heptadecenoid (17:1 n-7), cis-vaccenic (18:1 n-7) fatty acids were higher
(P<0.05) for animals in the NelloreContinental breed group, while in this group
percentages of linoleic (18:2 n-6), linolenic (18:3 n-6), -linolenic (18:3 n-3),
arachidonic (20:4 n-6), behenic (22:0) and clupadonic (22:5 n-3 - DPA) fatty acid
were lower. The crossbreeding type had no effect (P>0.05) on the percentage of
stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1 n-9), conjugated linolenic (18:2 c-9 t-11 - CLA) and
cervonic (22:6 n-3 - DHA) fatty acids.
The percentages of total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were similar
(P>0.05) among all three genetic groups. The percentage of polyunsaturated fatty
acids was similar (P>0.05) between NelloreAberdeen Angus and Nellore Continental breed type. Animals from the CanchimAberdeen Angus genetic group
featured a lower (P<0.05) percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Thus, a greater
contribution of Zebu genes (NelloreAberdeen Angus and NelloreContinental
breeds) obviously results in a higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
This could have resulted from a greater number of muscle membranes, where the
polyunsaturated fatty acids are preferentially stored.

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COMPOSITION OF THE LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE OF CROSSBRED BULLS

Table 5. Effect of different crossbreeding types on the fatty acid profile (% of total fatty acids) and
on fatty acid ratios in the Longissimus muscle of bulls
Fatty acids
Can Ang1
Nel Ang2
Nel Con3
Differences
2.73 0.05a
2.05 0.03b
1.69 0.05b
*
14:0
0.44 0.02
0.35 0.01
0.36 0.01
NS
14:1 n-7
26.9 0.24b
24.2 0.36b
**
16:0
30.5 0.42a
a
b
1.92 0.04
1.72 0.06b
*
16:1 n-7
2.68 0.07
0.22 0.01b
0.29 0.01a
*
ai 17:0
0.23 0.01b
0.47 0.01b
0.60 0.01a
*
i 17:0 iso
0.45 0.01b
0.72 0.01b
0.96 0.02a
**
17:0
0.81 0.02ab
0.56 0.01a
0.47 0.01b
0.56 0.01a
*
17:1 n-7
19.7 0.37
18:0
19.0 0.21
21.3 0.32
NS
36.0 0.43
18:1 n-9
36.5 0.25
35.6 0.38
NS
ab
b
a
2.32

0.06
2.09 0.04
2.63 0.06
**
18:1n-7
0.89 0.03b
1.08 0.02ab
1.21 0.02a
**
18:1 t-11 18:2 n-6
2.36 0.30b
7.25 0.18a
5.98 0.27a
*
18 :2 n-6
0.11 0.01b
0.11 0.01b
0.20 0.01a
***
18:3 n-6
0.25 0.01
18:2 c-9 t-11
0.22 0.01
0.30 0.01
NS
0.12 0.02b
0.34 0.01a
0.40 0.01a
*
18:3 n-3
0.59 0.09c
1.49 0.05b
2.29 0.08a
**
20:4 n-6
0.68 0.01a
0.24 0.01b
0.31 0.01b
*
20:5 n- 3
c
b
0.10 0.02
0.27 0.01
0.45 0.01a
**
22:0
0.38 0.03c
0.44 0.02b
0.79 0.02a
*
22:5 n- 3
0.18 0.08
22:6 n- 3
0.22 0.05
0.22 0.07
NS
52.6 0.48
Saturated fatty acids
49.6 0.28
50.0 0.42
NS
42.3 0.51
Monounsaturated fatty acids
40.6 0.30
38.4 0.45
NS
4.95 0.42b
8.92 0.25a
10.9 0.42a
**
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
4.29 0.36b
7.56 0.21a
9.23 0.32a
**
n-6
0.48 0.06b
n-3
1.15 0.03a
1.38 0.05a
*
0.10 0.01b
0.18 0.01a
0.22 0.01a
**
PUFA/SFA
11.1 0.65a
6.70 0.38b
7.00 0.56b
*
n-6/n-3
1
2
3
1/2 Canchim 1/2 Aberdeen Angus, 1/4 Nellore 3/4 Aberdeen Angus, 1/2 Nellore 1/2
Continental, 4 coefficient of variation, * P<0.10, **P<0.05, ***P<0.01, NS - non-significant

The percentages of total n-6 and n-3 fatty acids were similar (P>0.05) in animals of the NelloreAberdeen Angus and NelloreContinental breed groups.
A lower percentage (P<0.05) of total n-6 and n-3 fatty acids was observed in animals of the CanchimAberdeen Angus group.
The ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids was
similar (P<0.05) in animals of the NelloreAberdeen Angus and Nellor
NelloreContinental breed types. A lower ratio between these fatty acids was
found in animals of the CanchimAberdeen Angus group. Despite the differences
observed in the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, in none of the

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305

crossbreeding types the ratios met the standards considered beneficial to human
health (0.45, according to English Health Department - HMSO, 1994).
The ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids was higher (P<0.10) in animals of the
CanchimAberdeen Angus group as compared to animals of the Nellore Aberdeen Angus and NelloreContinental breed types, where there was also a difference (P>0.05) between the latter two groups. For all genetic groups, the ratio of
n-6 to n-3 fatty acids studied was higher than that considered adequate to human
health (4:1, according to English Health Department - HMSO, 1994).
CONCLUSIONS
Crossbreeding can be used as a tool to alter lipid content and fatty acid profile
in the Longissimus muscle of bulls grazed from weaning and finished in feedlot
for 4 months. The use of genes from English breeds (Angus) significantly increases fat deposition. Conversely, the use of Zebu breeds (Nellore) increases the
percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. Furthermore,
the use of Zebu genes improves the ratios of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty
acids and of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids. Thus, crossbreeding between Bos taurus taurus
and Bos taurus indicus breeds could be applied on bulls for feedlot finishing, aiming at marketing beef that better meet the demands of consumer food safety and
health.
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